Yesterday, Washington’s Cardinal Donald Wuerl celebrated Mass to mark the opening of the academic year at the Catholic University of America in Washington. But he took a moment at the ceremony’s conclusion to make a personal and impassioned plea. The brief video below is worth watching and sharing. It speaks to the conscience of the world.

Often we’re asked, “How is it possible that in human history atrocities occur?” They occur for two reasons. Because there are those prepared to commit them and there are those who remain silent. And the actions in Iraq and Syria today, what’s happening to women, children, men, their displacement — as the least of the things happening to them — is something that we really are not free to ignore and sometimes all we have to raise is our voice.

Watch the video below.

Keep our suffering brothers and sisters in Iraq and Syria in your prayers. And, if you can, please remember them in a special way by making a gift to support the work of CNEWA in Iraq. Visit this page to learn how.